US Customs at Shannon

[captainmorgan888]

hi all,

has anybody experience with US immigration/customs preclearance at shannon ?
- do the pax/crew have to leave the airplane ?
- what about the bags ?
- what about catering, can we cater us-agricultural compliant in shannon ?

would like to try shannon, instead of bangor in case of too strong headwinds on our way to KTEB...

thank´s for your help !

[G-V]

Hmmmmm.....

Shannon is in Ireland.

[Arkwright]

Shannon (in Ireland!:}) is now a designated port of entry into the US.

I understand that it was setup to accommodate the Airbus service from LCY to NY

[Max Torque]

My understanding is that its only for scheduled operators for now. Check with the airport authorities, or maybe even the TSA website.

Max

[mutt]

setup to accommodate the Airbus service from LCY to NY....No it wasnt, it was setup OVER 25 years AGO....

Mutt

[FLEXJET]

I never experienced it myself but it looks like the pre-clearance was planned to be available for BizAv as well since September last year.

Check here:
SHANNON - THE 51ST STATE - Aviation Articles - AvBuyer.com (http://www.avbuyer.com/articles/detail.asp?Id=1495)

Full contacts, including e-mails:
Shannon Airport - US CBP Facility (http://www.shannonairport.com/businesstobusiness/)

U.S. Customs & Border Protection
c/o Aer-Rianta
Shannon Airport
Shannon, County Clare, Ireland
Port Director
Phone: 011-353-6147-2297

U.S. Customs & Border Protection
Dublin International Airport
Pier B
Dubland, Ireland
Port Director
Phone: 011-353-1814-4818

[notanastronaut]

Airlines only.
regards,
NAA

[411A]

As I recall, airlines using Shannon for preclearance for the USA is for immigration only, customs (ie: baggage) was at the first US port of entry.

[WHBM]

As I recall, airlines using Shannon for preclearance for the USA is for immigration only, customs (ie: baggage) was at the first US port of entry.
Used to be like that (and I believe still is at Dublin, the only other such European preclearance point), but now both are done at Shannon. When Terminal 2 opens at Dublin next year I believe it will then provide both services as well.

[lpokijuhyt]

No, no experience with the US customs in Ireland (that sounds weird). But I would imagine that they are like the rest of the US customs: obese, arrogant, shockingly dumb, and receive immense arrousal from a sense of power.

[FLEXJET]

But I would imagine that they are like the rest of the US customs: obese, arrogant, shockingly dumb, and receive immense arrousal from a sense of power.

Not true at LAX, but I tend to agree for TEB customs. The worst I've experienced so far, worldwide.

[Carrier]

Quote: "No, no experience with the US customs in Ireland (that sounds weird)

Not weird, just normal American arrogance to have their government agencies operating openly in other countries. Do these subject countries have no pride that they let their sovereignty be usurped?

The subject countries should evict these American government operations. Flights to and from the USA should be no different from flights to and from other countries. If the Americans want to get difficult then impose counter-vailing duties and similar retaliations. A few years ago when the yanks started getting nasty they required all visiting Brazilians to be finger printed. Credit to Brazil for promptly requiring all visiting Americans to be finger printed! If they can do it then so can American vassal countries such as Eire and Canada.

[WHBM]

Not weird, just normal American arrogance to have their government agencies operating openly in other countries. Do these subject countries have no pride that they let their sovereignty be usurped?
By no means the only occurrence of immigration authorities operating in overseas countries. UK uniformed immigration staff operate at both the Eurostar train stations and the cross-channel ferry departure ports in France, meaning that when you arrive in the UK you just walk straight off. In recent times with the growth of "asylum seeking" travellers, the ability for authorities to reject travellers at point of departure, when they are unable to claim asylum in the country of arrival, has become more significant.

[potatowings]

An embassy is no different, for example the American embassy in London, they are Americans, often in uniform, performing the role of their government on another countries soil. Why should it be any different for certain other agencies such as immigration.

These setups make life easier and faster for those that wish to use the service.

I did receive a notification through work regarding pre-clearance at Shannon and my understanding was that it was for biz jets too. I would suggest advanced booking is probably required however.

The aircraft I fly is only just trans-atlantic capable, what would happen if you have to put down in Canada on your way for a quick top-off? Would you then have to clear immigration again?

[AlanBrighton]

I have used US Immigration at Shannon a year or so ago (very smooth) and I used the full pre-clearance facility in December 2009.

It is excellent. The Immigration (and now also combined as customs) officers are polite and very friendly, generally wishing you a loely holiday/trip, etc.
For Continental flights, you have to drop your baggage off at beween 6-54 and 7am, clear security and then clear immigration (which s open 7-15am until 7-45am). very fast and smooth.

Now that most trans-atlantic flights from Gatwick have moved to LHR, I find it easier and cheaper to fly to Shannon the night before and stay next to the airport, rather than paying double to get to and stay at Heathrow.

Do remember that Shannon is only so smooth because it has so many extremely low risk passengers and they have fully vetted all passengers long before they have arrived at the airport. It is amazing for connecting flights, as you arrive domestically.

Continental are starting afternoon flights as well for the summer - 2 hours 15 from check-in to take-off, and off the plane with bags standing outside the airport in Newark in 20 minutes, not bad!

[fullrich]

The Minister for Transport, Mr Noel Dempsey T.D. today (28 January 2010) announced the opening up of Shannon Airport for preclearance for U.S. bound private aircraft. This follows on from the introduction of commercial preclearance at Shannon which has been operating very successfully since August 2009. Minister Dempsey said;

‘Following negotiations at official level between the Irish and U.S. administrations and having raised the matter personally with the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Ms Janet Napolitano I am delighted to be able to announce today that the way is now cleared for the introduction of preclearance for private aircraft at Shannon in the coming weeks.’

Preclearance for commercial flights to the U.S. from Shannon was introduced on 5 August last and has proven to be very successful for the airlines that are utilising it. Essentially preclearance means that U.S. bound passengers clear all U.S. entry controls before boarding the aircraft, thus ensuring that on arrival there is no further official processing and passengers are treated as if they had arrived from a U.S. domestic airport. Minister Dempsey went on to say;

‘I see the extension of preclearance at Shannon to private aircraft as a very positive development for Shannon Airport and for the Mid-West region in general. Because of its location, a significant number of U.S. bound private aircraft already use Shannon for refuelling. I am confident that with this development there will be a significant increase in these numbers in order to take advantage for preclearance.’

The Minister paid tribute to the U.S. Ambassador for his help in clearing the way for the introduction of preclearance for private aircraft.

‘I want to say a particular word of thanks to Ambassador Rooney for his interest in preclearance and for his role in ensuring that today’s announcement has been possible.’

Hope this helps. Rich

[His dudeness]

Not weird, just normal American arrogance to have their government agencies operating openly in other countries. Do these subject countries have no pride that they let their sovereignty be usurped?

The subject countries should evict these American government operations. Flights to and from the USA should be no different from flights to and from other countries. If the Americans want to get difficult then impose counter-vailing duties and similar retaliations. A few years ago when the yanks started getting nasty they required all visiting Brazilians to be finger printed. Credit to Brazil for promptly requiring all visiting Americans to be finger printed! If they can do it then so can American vassal countries such as Eire and Canada

For me it would be okay to hassle with TSA, Immigration and customs IF the european governments would treat US citizen and crew in the same ****ty way - but they just walk off the aeroplane and through much less troubl than we do over there. For the time being we don´t fly into the US and I´m most thankful for that, despite the fact that I actually like taying in the US the whole shebang to get into this country puts me off, holidays included.

The brazilian stunt was btw done by a local brazilian judge and I think it has been withdrawn. But this guy showed way more guts than all european governments together. The 'mericans whistle and they follow. The brits being the first I have to say, but ours follow your lead immediately. Even the notoriuos opposing french have become 'domesticated' in that respect.

The preclearance thing is btw a good thing IMO, at least if one gets rejected he is not too far from home...

[smallfry]

I think it is a great step forward for us... It will help out our operations in a few cases.... And it cannot take any longer than in KTEB...

[Uncle Wiggily]

Hi,

Can someone supply me with the correct phone number for clearing customs in Shannon? I tried the one listed in an earlier post, but it is a bad number.

Thanks!

[Fletner007]

And it cannot take any longer than in KTEB...I do confirm, I have waited two hours and a half for them on board with
my passengers.

[CaptainProp]

I believe it should be arranged via your handling agent. We've used Westair, give them a call on +353 61 475166 and check if they can help you.

Not sure if its been mentioned before but remember that there's a list of airports that can be used as first point of entry. No other airports are approved as they lack the facilities to take care of waste from inbound flights....or so I have been told...

Good luck!

CP

[tkclr60]

captmorgan888, I know its been awhile since the post was started but how did it go? Did you have to deplane pax and luggage and/or dump food? How about the time it took? Thanks.